Question 1

1 - I am selling my house. Do I need to provide any information to my agent or a potential buyer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When property is sold in the state of Maryland, it is required that sellers provide buyers with any and all information regarding the property, including the fact that Columbia and the Village of Oakland Mills are covenant-protected communities. You may also have documents from your townhouse association if you are selling a town house. This information is most fully disclosed when the Oakland Mills, Columbia Association, and townhouse association resale documents, if applicable, are purchased by the seller and passed on to the buyer for their review. This information also becomes part of the deed of each property owner, and all are required to have and to hold these documents and to abide by them, affording each resident all the rights and responsibilities of owning property in Columbia, MD. Oakland Mills Village documents and Columbia Association documents (link to Columbia Association documents included) can be downloaded for free HERE or purchased (hard copy) at The Other Barn for $30.00.

Question 2

2 - My neighbor told me I have to have a Letter of Compliance from the village before I can sell my property. Is this true?

Accepted Answer

The answer to this question is YES and NO. If you are selling property in Columbia please request a Letter of Compliance. This letter provides written documentation from the Village of Oakland Mills that your property is free of covenant violations, and therefore compliant with the Oakland Mills covenants. If violations exist, a letter will be sent stating what needs to be done to bring the property into compliance. If violations cannot be corrected for any reason, however, simply disclose this information to a buyer, and the property may be sold in a non-compliant condition. Please note, however, all non-compliant, uncorrected violations will thereafter become the responsibility of the buyer when they purchase the property. Download a request form here.

Question 3

3 - I am buying a home in Oakland Mills. What information should the seller provide?

Accepted Answer

Those selling property in Maryland are required to provide buyers with any and all information regarding the property, including the fact that Columbia and the Village of Oakland Mills are covenant protected communities. Required information that must be provided to a buyer includes a resale packet (see below), and we recommend asking the seller for a Letter of Compliance.
Letter of Compliance: We recommend that, if you are buying a home in the Village of Oakland Mills, you ask the seller to provide you with a Letter of Compliance. Upon request from the seller, the Oakland Mills Covenant team will inspect the exterior of the property. After the inspection is complete, the Village of Oakland Mills will provide the seller with written documentation that a property is free of covenant violations and therefore compliant with the Oakland Mills Covenants. If violations exist, a letter will be provided stating what needs to be done to bring the property into compliance. If violations cannot be corrected for any reason before the property is purchased, the property may be sold in a noncompliant condition if the buyer agrees to the noncompliant issues. Noncompliant, uncorrected violations will therefore become the responsibility of the buyer when they purchase a property. Such discussions are between the buyer and seller, not the village office.
Resale Packet: A resale packet from the Village of Oakland Mills contains the village’s legal documents, Architectural Guidelines, Columbia Association legal documents, Letters from the Oakland Mills Covenant Advisors and Village Manager, a request for a Letter of Compliance (to be submitted by the seller), and an Exterior Alteration Application. The packet can be downloaded for free HERE or purchased at The Other Barn for $30 per packet.
Annual Charge Share: To obtain the amount of the Columbia Association Annual Charge, the seller/seller’s agent or title company should contact Columbia Association at annualcharge@columbiaassociation.org.
Townhouse or Condominium Purchase: In addition to providing the buyer with the information listed above, the seller of a townhouse or condominium should provide the buyer with the townhouse/condominium resale packet and the HOA fees. The seller will need to contact the townhouse/condominium directly for this information.

Covenant FAQ

1 - I am selling my house. Do I need to provide any information to my agent or a potential buyer?

2 - My neighbor told me I have to have a Letter of Compliance from the village before I can sell my property. Is this true?

3 - I am buying a home in Oakland Mills. What information should the seller provide?

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